Illegal or just unethical?

[jenrose66]

I worked retail at a bookstore. I remember from time to time "corporate" whoever that is would send a daily report of promotions and things going on at the store. Sometimes the prices on books would change. We would have to find all the copies of the affected title and put a white sticker over the old price and handwrite in the new price. It was usually around a 1 to 3 dollar increase.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Supposedly JcPennys does this all of the time. I am not sure how much truth there is to that, but I know a few people have had a similar experience there and at Walmart.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

You purchased merchandise at a price that you considered to be fair. IMO, that should be enough. Consider the price that you would have paid at a standard retail outlet instead of a discount store.

A fair price is a fair price, right?

 

[honeydiane1953]

Bought some undies today at a well known store. They were buy one get one free, marked $8.00 each. So they will end up being $4.00 each. This is more than I usually pay for undies but I really prefer this kind. Anyway, I got them home and when looking at the tags, if you scrape off the $8.00 price tag it says $6.00 underneath. Did they MARK THEM UP to then put them on a fake sale? I am really irritated by this. I do not buy this brand often so not sure if the regular price is 6 or 8 but it appears to be a bit of a scam. Thoughts?

Sad to say it happens ALOT. Is it wrong? YES.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Bought some undies today at a well known store. They were buy one get one free, marked $8.00 each. So they will end up being $4.00 each. This is more than I usually pay for undies but I really prefer this kind. Anyway, I got them home and when looking at the tags, if you scrape off the $8.00 price tag it says $6.00 underneath. Did they MARK THEM UP to then put them on a fake sale? I am really irritated by this. I do not buy this brand often so not sure if the regular price is 6 or 8 but it appears to be a bit of a scam. Thoughts?

Uh, many stores do this all the time, like their VERY special sale, that basically runs every week...like Macys, lol
Take them back and and ask them what the deal is and you could also complain to the BBB....but it does not surprise me at all.....its just typical retail behavior...pathetic way to rip people off..

 

[si-am]

A few weeks ago, NY & Co had one of their "entire store 50% off" sales. Only all the pricetags had stickers over them with new prices.

 

[disney*mom*82]

Our local Elder Beerman does this too. They will have the doorbusters with a tog over the "real" orriginal price as to make you feel like you are getting a better deal.
Example..I bought some photo costers, supposed doorbuster price was 50% off the tagged price of $15, but when I took it home and wanted to take price off, since it was a gift, under that sticker was an original price tag that said $10. I was shocked! Ive checked the tickets several times now and they do this ALOT. To me, its just wrong!

 

[girlieeee]

$6 could be the "suggested retail" and $8 is what they charge. Sometimes they aren't allowed to go over suggested price, depends on the company they are buying from. Might be worth a letter or call to corporate.

 

[maxiesmom]

Our local Elder Beerman does this too. They will have the doorbusters with a tog over the "real" orriginal price as to make you feel like you are getting a better deal.
Example..I bought some photo costers, supposed doorbuster price was 50% off the tagged price of $15, but when I took it home and wanted to take price off, since it was a gift, under that sticker was an original price tag that said $10. I was shocked! Ive checked the tickets several times now and they do this ALOT. To me, its just wrong!

It is only wrong if you go back a few days later, and the price is back down to $10. Then I would be mad, and maybe write a letter to the Attorney General.

Stores are allowed to increase prices as they see fit. However, larger chains only increase prices when they are told they need to do so by the home office.

 

[cm8]

I wish I knew how to post pictures. lol. But I dont really want you to see my undies.

I won't laugh, I promise .

I have known that to happen at this one particular outlet store we have here. It seems to be common practice around here. I would take a picture of the original ticket price and the sale price and then send them to the headquarters and some other place that deals with consumer issues. I can assure you that you will get your money back

 

[sparklynails23]

Illegal, but it will cost you more in gas to go argue about it than you lost by their scam. E-mail them if you want.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have known that to happen at this one particular outlet store we have here. It seems to be common practice around here. I would take a picture of the original ticket price and the sale price and then send them to the headquarters and some other place that deals with consumer issues. I can assure you that you will get your money back

Sorry, I still say that's a lot of work for $2.

 

[dakcp2001]

Sorry, I still say that's a lot of work for $2.

That is $2 per pair. It really is more about feeling ripped off than the actual amount. I sent an email to corporate and have gotten back 2 responses so far apologizing and saying they are investigating it further. I doubt anything will come of it and it is not worth the long drive to return. I just don't like feeling ripped off. I won't be shopping there again.

It actually was not a lot of work to email them. If it was I wouldnt have bothered.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I find this happens a lot with 'going out of business' sales. When our Bradlees closed years ago, I went to get some 'deals'. All of the jeans were marked UP 25% with a new sticker, and then marked down 25% of whatever. No 'deal'. I've seen it happen other places since.

I would bring it to their attention.

 

[Shelby5514]

Uh, many stores do this all the time, like their VERY special sale, that basically runs every week...like Macys, lol
Take them back and and ask them what the deal is and you could also complain to the BBB....but it does not surprise me at all.....its just typical retail behavior...pathetic way to rip people off..

I beg to differ. Macy's may run a sale every week, but I can assure you they DO NOT mark items UP to mark them DOWN. I am the Price Change Lead at Macy's and barely have time to do the markdowns in the hours I am given in a week. There is NO WAY I would have time to fuss with something so time consuming as marking up items only to mark them back down.

 

[sam_gordon]

That is $2 per pair.

No, unless I misunderstood somewhere, it's $2.

Tell me where I'm wrong...

You purchased two pair using a buy one/get one free. The sticker price on one pair at the time was $8. So, $8 = 2 pair. You were fine & dandy paying that.

After you got home, you found out the $8 price tag was covering up a $6 price tag. If the $6 was the "true" price, under the buy one/get one free, you would have gotten 2 pair for $6. $8 - $6 = $2.

The other way to look at it is if the $6 was the "true" price, and you bought two pair, that would cost you $12. So you "saved" $4.

 

[dakcp2001]

No, unless I misunderstood somewhere, it's $2.

Tell me where I'm wrong...

You purchased two pair using a buy one/get one free. The sticker price on one pair at the time was $8. So, $8 = 2 pair. You were fine & dandy paying that.

After you got home, you found out the $8 price tag was covering up a $6 price tag. If the $6 was the "true" price, under the buy one/get one free, you would have gotten 2 pair for $6. $8 - $6 = $2.

The other way to look at it is if the $6 was the "true" price, and you bought two pair, that would cost you $12. So you "saved" $4.

I purchased 8 total pairs. No where did I say I only bought 2.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have worked retail--and it would just seem that it would not be unethical to mark something by mistake and then correct it. It would seem logical to remove the error before you put on a new tag.

Any clearance center, it behooves the buyer to beware and be cautions. If there is a pile of tags on the item, I will go through the tags. Sometimes out of curiosity to see what the markdowns were. It would make me question the tag if there was a less expensive tag.

I probably wouldn't do anything about it now. Lesson learned and next time, check the stickers carefully. I don't think there is a sinister conspiracy going on. Pricing is just a pain in the tush assignment. Mistakes can happen.

 

[Shelby5514]

I actually marked items UP today, but only by 2 cents. From $15.98 to $16.00. It seems Ralph Lauren doesn't want their socks part of Macy's Everyday Value program so they issued a markup for them. I timed myself to see how long it would take and it took 45 minutes to remove the old stickers and print & place the new stickers. THIS is why we don't mark up, to mark down. It just takes too dang long and my fingers are sore from pick, pick, picking at the old stickers.

The good news for customers is they are now coupon eligible!!!!!!